News : POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: REPLACING ROLLINS — JANEY’s new endorsement

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: REPLACING ROLLINS — JANEY’s new endorsement — Statewide races TAKE SHAPE

Jul 27, 2021

REPLACING RACHAEL ROLLINS — Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins' long-anticipated and historic nomination as the next U.S. attorney for Massachusetts has set off a flurry of political activity among those interested in her current job.

Should Rollins clear her yet-to-be-scheduled Senate confirmation hearing, GOP Gov. Charlie Baker would be in charge of appointing someone to fill out the remainder of the progressive Democrat's term. Voters will elect a new Suffolk DA in 2022.

Baker has asked Rollins to recommend three people, according to a source familiar with the process. The governor told reporters yesterday he'll be looking for someone with "experience, intelligence and some degree of support from the community."

Rollins has been advocating for Daniel Mulhern, her first assistant district attorney. Among the possibilities on Rollins' leadership team, Mulhern and chief of staff Amanda Teo live in Suffolk County — a requirement for the job — while general counsel Donna Patalano, who's run for DA in Middlesex County before, does not.

Boston City Councilor Michael Flaherty, a former Suffolk assistant district attorney and Democrat who endorsed Baker in 2014, has long been floated as a possible pick. He's currently focusing on his council reelection bid.

Then there's Linda Champion, an assistant general counsel in the state Department of Industrial Accidents who finished last in the five-way Democratic primary for Suffolk DA that Rollins won in 2018. Champion is putting her name in the mix, and a spokesperson said she "understands the work, she's done the work, and she feels like it would be a great position for her at this point in her career."

Rahsaan Hall, a former Suffolk assistant district attorney who now works at the ACLU of Massachusetts, has generated some supportive buzz on social media and among Boston activists, but doesn't live in the county. He could not be reached for comment.

Baker has his wish list of DA qualities, and so do advocates. ACLU of Massachusetts Executive Director Carol Rose urged Baker to appoint someone who will continue Rollins' work "toward a legal system that is focused on transformation and healing — not convictions and incarceration."

NAACP Boston Branch President Tanisha Sullivan added that she wants to see someone who "has the ability to instantly receive the credibility and trust of the community" that Rollins has built up. Mattapan state Rep. Russell Holmes said voters made clear in 2018 they wanted a "strong progressive-minded district attorney" and is advocating to the governor for the next person to be "cut from the same cloth."

Rollins' confirmation hearing is unlikely to happen before September given the Senate calendar, so, as Baker put it, "we've got time."

Whomever Baker chooses will likely shape the field for the open-seat DA race in 2022. While the governor is soliciting recommendations from Rollins, he's not required to pick someone from her list.

There's a chance Rollins doesn't make it through the process. But Rollins' potential vulnerabilities have been well chronicled and handled. She's been dialing down her typically outspoken social media presence in recent months. And she's got strong support from Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey.

It's also possible that senators could use her hearing as a vehicle to jab the Biden administration by asking Rollins about the Boston police commissioner scandal that began when Labor Dept. Secretary Marty Walsh was still mayor. Rollins, the county's top law enforcement officer, waded into the controversy during multiple interviews this spring, at one point saying Walsh was either "lying, or he didn't know about" the decades-old domestic abuse allegations against Dennis White and was therefore a bad manager.

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The labor union that filed — and then agreed to drop — an unfair labor practices complaint against the city over Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey's return-to-work mandate is now endorsing her for mayor.

SEIU Local 888 — which includes more than 8,500 public service workers, about 2,000 of whom work and live in Boston — is backing Janey's bid to make her job permanent.

"We knew Kim Janey, long before she became Mayor, as a staunch advocate on the City Council for the dedicated workers who keep Boston running," SEIU Local 888 President Tom McKeever said in a statement via Janey's campaign. "Now, our members who work for the city have seen first-hand the careful listener and compassionate leader she is as Mayor. We look forward to ensuring that she wins a full term so she can finish the great work she has started — whether around affordable housing, equity and excellence in our schools, or simply making sure Boston works for its people."

The union filed a complaint in June claiming the city "refused to bargain in good faith" over health, safety, child care and other issues when remote workers were ordered to return to city buildings. Janey's administration ultimately agreed to let some SEIU Local 888 workers delay their returns if necessary, and the union dropped its claim.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Massachusetts Playbook will not publish on Thursday, July 29, and Friday, July 30. I'll be back in your inbox on Monday, Aug. 2.

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TODAY — The legislature holds its second hearing on how to spend the state's ARPA money at 11 a.m., this one focused on housing, labor and workforce development. Manufacturing Caucus co-chairs state Sen. Eric Lesser and state Rep. Jeffrey Roy host a hearing with MassBio on vaccine production. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer hold a press conference at noon calling on President Joe Biden to extend the pause on federal student loan payments. Warren also chairs a hearing on "Protecting Student Loan Borrowers and the Economy in Upcoming Transitions" at 3 p.m. State Attorney General Maura Healey visits 2021 Healthy Summer Youth Jobs Program grant recipients St. Stephen's Youth Programs and All Dorchester Sports & Leadership at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively. Boston mayoral candidate and City Councilor Andrea Campbell visits Prince Hall Grand Lodge vaccination site at 10:30 a.m. Boston mayoral candidate and City Councilor Michelle Wu participates in a Boston Alphas Q&A at 1:30 p.m. Boston mayoral candidates participate in a youth-led forum at 5 p.m. Janey gives remarks at the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company's performance of The Tempest at 7:30 p.m. on the Boston Common.

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THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "Massachusetts averaged 414 new COVID cases a day over the past three days," by Noah R. Bombard, MassLive.com: "As Massachusetts continues to see an increase in COVID cases due to the spread of the delta variant, the state averaged 414 new cases a day over the weekend and Monday. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced a total of 1,243 new COVID cases Monday, which includes cases reported on Saturday and Sunday."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "Medical leaders call for mask requirements, stronger action against COVID-19 in Mass. schools," by Kay Lazar, Boston Globe: "Top public health leaders and physicians called Monday for stronger measures to protect children against COVID-19 infection in Massachusetts schools this fall, including requiring masks and even automatically vaccinating students at school — unless parents specifically opt out of the shots. The appeals for stronger measures punctuated a day-long hearing by lawmakers on whether the state is prepared to vaccinate more than 880,000 children under age 12 once the shots are authorized by federal regulators, which is expected later this fall."

– "State remains mum on whether school mask mandates will return," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "Gov. Charlie Baker, speaking at a press availability after meeting with legislative leaders Monday, did not rule out mask requirements in schools, but said he wants to hear more guidance from the White House, the CDC, FDA, and other federal agencies. He said he is more interested in expanding the state's pooled testing program, which let schools regularly test asymptomatic students and staff to catch COVID cases before they spread."

– "Opposition mounts to plan for pension bonus for COVID public workers," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "Opposition is mounting on a bill that seeks to boost pension payouts for public employees who went to work throughout the pandemic at the expense of billions to taxpayers despite widespread support from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. "

– "Baker, Dems Remain Apart on Tax Holiday, ARPA Spending," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "Gov. Charlie Baker sat down face-to-face with the House speaker and the Senate president for the first time in over a year on Monday, but had no more luck in person than he's had virtually in trying to convince Democratic leaders that a two-month sales tax holiday and rapid deployment of federal aid are needed. ... 'Suffice it to say that I think agree to disagree might be the best way to describe their point of view,' Baker said."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– "Baystate Health requiring employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID by Oct. 1," by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: "Baystate Health announced Monday that under a newly adopted policy all of its staff, volunteers and contractors must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by Oct. 1. Baystate Health President and CEO Dr. Mark Keroack, in a memo to all employees, said that 75% of staff have already made the effort to get fully vaccinated…"

– "Worcester Public Schools may return to hybrid learning if COVID-19 case numbers don't improve," by Ted Wayman, WCVB: "The city of Worcester has a 62% COVID-19 vaccination rate, but Worcester Medical Director Dr. Michael Hirsh says it has been difficult to move that rate higher. 'If the community spread continues to go up — and I'm not 100% sure that it will — but if it does, there's got to be a consideration for a virtual model of school again,' Hirsh said."

ROLLINS REPORT

– "Biden nominates Rachael Rollins as US Attorney for Massachusetts," by Andrea Estes and Jim Puzzanghera, Boston Globe: "President Biden nominated Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins to be US Attorney from Massachusetts on Monday. If confirmed by the Senate, Rollins, a criminal justice reformer, would be the first Black woman to hold the role in the state, overseeing an office of more than 200 federal prosecutors."

– More from WBUR's Deborah Becker: "Rollins, the first Black woman to serve as Suffolk County's district attorney, has grabbed national attention as part of a growing movement of progressive district attorneys elected around the country. ... But her initiatives have rankled high profile members of the state's law enforcement community."

FROM THE HUB

– "Kim Janey launches three months of free bus rides between Roxbury, Mattapan," by Meghan Ottolini, Boston Herald: "Commuters will be able to ride the MBTA Route 28 bus between Roxbury and Mattapan for free this fall, thanks to a new pilot program launched by Acting Mayor Kim Janey – and it could just mark the beginning of fare-free buses in Boston. 'I would love to see free buses all throughout Boston,' Janey said while introducing the program Monday morning."

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The Greater Boston Labor Council, which represents more than 100,000 workers and their families, is endorsing Ruthzee Louijeune for Boston City Council at-large, per her campaign. "As we emerge from the pandemic, workers are committed to building back better and to building a movement for worker justice. We know that Ruthzee will be with us in this fight as a fierce advocate for the labor movement in Boston and our values of equity, opportunity and strong communities," Greater Boston Labor Council Executive Secretary-Treasurer Darlene Lombos said in a statement. Louijeune has also been endorsed by IBEW Locals 2222 and 103.

– "Boston.com readers submitted questions for the mayoral candidates about Mass. and Cass. We got their answers," by Dialynn Dwyer, Boston.com: "How the next mayor of Boston will address the overlapping crises of substance use, homelessness, and mental health has emerged as one of the race's prominent issues."

– "Kim Janey Explains New Bus Pilot Program, Shares Why She's Running for Mayor," by Kwani Lunis, NBC 10 Boston: "Boston Mayor Kim Janey joined Kwani Lunis to talk about the city's new initiative to provide free transportation on certain bus lines, why she's running for mayor and what she's been listening to lately."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– "Mass. highway official says it will cost around $1 million to fully repair Medford bridge damaged by I-93 truck crash," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "It could take up to a year and around $1 million to fully repair the Medford bridge above I-93 that was struck by an over-height truck last week, according to Massachusetts Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver."

– "Rising seas pose an 'existential threat' to MBTA, study warns," by Andrew Brinker, Boston Globe: "Rising seas pose an existential threat to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's rail network over the next 50 years, carrying the potential to inundate vast portions of the system and sever crucial links that shuttle hundreds of thousands of riders across the region each day, a new study has found."

FEELING '22

– Auditor race heats up: After formally jumping into the auditor's race yesterday — the Boston Globe's Emma Platoff has that covered — Chris Dempsey has a fundraiser tomorrow hosted by Marty Walsh (the political consultant) and Katie Joyce in Natick. In another first in Playbook detail, Dempsey's got a Brookline community kickoff Thursday that'll be emceed by state Rep. Tommy Vitolo.

Dempsey's got the connections to raise some serious cash — he out-raised state Sen. Diana DiZoglio, his Democratic rival for auditor, while still in his exploratory stage last month. But DiZoglio is criss-crossing the state for grassroots fundraising events, including one with Merrimack Valley women leaders last week that featured state Sen. Anne Gobi, state Reps. Colleen Garry and Vanna Howard, and Amesbury Mayor Kassandra Grove — meaning the race for the lesser-known of the state's six constitutional seats is poised to become an expensive one.

– "Quentin Palfrey, former Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, exploring a bid for Mass. attorney general," by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: "Quentin Palfrey, Massachusetts Democrats' 2018 nominee for lieutenant governor and an attorney who has served in the Biden administration, is forming an exploratory committee for a 2022 attorney general bid, he said Monday. Palfrey, who worked until recently as acting general counsel at the US Department of Commerce, outlined a broad view of the attorney general's portfolio and said he would use the post to shape conversations on criminal justice and other issues."

– "A Healey Run For Governor Would Upend The Democratic Field. But Will She Take The Plunge?" by Mike Deehan, GBH News: "A few well-placed Democrats say that Healey is taking discrete soundings, talking to longtime allies and a handful of stalwart contributors. Whenever he's asked, Baker grins and dances. His inner circle is even more mum than Healey's. Either they won't say — or don't know."

FROM THE 413

– "2 Boston firms help plan $400 million Holyoke Soldiers' Home construction," by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican: "Two Boston firms are helping plan construction of a new, $400 million Holyoke Soldiers' Home to replace the aging facility ravaged last year by COVID-19. Commodore Builders Inc., a veteran-owned firm, and Walsh Brothers Inc., with a huge portfolio of major health care projects, had been selected to oversee planning of the project, a spokesman for the joint venture announced Monday."

– "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield gets $3.7M in federal COVID Shuttered Venue relief," by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: "U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, on Monday announced $20 million in Shuttered Venue Operators Grant aid for COVID relief, including $3.7 million for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. … Neal and Hall of Fame President and CEO John Doleva said the grant provides critical revenue for that venue as it rebounds from a five-month closure and dramatically reduced revenues during the pandemic."

– "'We're trying to work around the mud': Local farmers cope with near-record breaking rain in July," by Jacquelyn Voghel, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "Quabbin Farms in Pelham is always a little damper than most: The farmland is nicknamed 'the swamp on the hill' because it collects so much water. The location is usually an asset to the farmers, who spend less time watering and rigging irrigation. But this year, the Valley's nearly record-breaking rain has doomed almost half of the farm's crops."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "Braintree man will push airline drink cart from Boston to Ground Zero in memory of 9/11," by Fred Hanson, Patriot Ledger: "Starting Aug. 21, [Paul Veneto] plans to push an airline drink cart on land from Boston Logan Airport to Ground Zero in New York City, arriving on the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He's doing it to call attention to his crewmates on United Flight 175, the second hijacked plane to crash into the twin towers of the World Trade Center that day, as well as the flight attendants on the other three airplanes involved in the attacks."

– IN MEMORIAM: "Tom Payzant, Former Boston Superintendent And Education Equity Advocate, Dies" by Carrie Jung, WBUR.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Mass Audubon's Mike Cusher, Linda Feldmann and Miles Ketchum. Happy belated to Patrick Horan, who celebrated Monday.

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